Ready, Set, Go! (Awesome Summer Science Experiments)
Check in each week at Science Buddies this summer for our Awesome Summer Science Experiments series! Each week, we'll highlight a few activities for awesome science and engineering kids can do at home. We've got a whole summer of fun STEM themes lined up for kids of all ages — for free. This week: Ready, Set, Go! STEM — awesome summer science experiments that take off, roll, fly, spin, and more!
From the Vault!: This post was part of our 2021 Awesome Summer Science series featuring ten free weeks of themed science projects and experiments.
Awesome Ready, Set, Go! STEM
We've reached the final week of our 10-weeks of Awesome Summer Science Experiments! It's been an exciting summer of hands-on STEM learning, and the fun isn't over! This week, we've highlighted a set of experiments with a Ready, Set, Go! theme.
The activities in Week 10 of our Awesome Summer Science Experiments series feature fun builds that hover, fly, spin, roll, and more!
Awesome Summer Science Experiments Week 10: Experiment | Watch | Ask | Kits | Explore | Read
EXPERIMENT: Ready, Set, Go! STEM
Mini Propeller Car
Building this mini propeller car involves a simple circuit but is a fun twist on other robots and vehicles. How does the propeller work to move the car forward?
Wall Marble Run
How much of a wall can you cover with a marble run that works? Clear off a wall and put it to the test! As they build their run, kids will be putting potential and kinetic energy in action! Can they solve how to add twists and turns? Tip! To maximize the fun, have kids start as high as they can. (For more ideas using cardboard tubes, see 10 STEM Activities with Cardboard Tubes.)
Balloon Car
With craft and recycled materials, kids can make all kinds of rolling vehicles. Add balloons to make this balloon car and see Newton's laws of motion in action. What design choices might improve the car's speed? (For more fun car experiments, see Rev Up STEM Learning with Car Science Projects.)
Exploding Sticks Chain Reaction
With a set of wooden craft sticks, kids can assemble an amazing popsicle stick chain reaction. Be careful to not let go until you are ready for the reaction to start! Tip! This one is fun for slow-motion (or regular speed) video capture to preserve the moment! (For other experiments with popsicle sticks, see Popsicle Stick STEM Projects.)
Make a Simple Motor
Kids can make a simple electric motor using a battery, a magnet, and a wire. This classic physics activity demonstrates electromagnetism and creates a fun spinning display. After testing the basic motor design, can you use a fancier shape of wire for your homopolar motor?
Race Hovercraft
How does a hovercraft glide through the air without touching the ground? Kids can explore by making and testing hovercraft built from balloons, compact discs, a plastic bottle valve, and craft supplies. What controls how long they hover or how far they travel?
Make a Mini Drone
Build a basic popsicle stick drone to learn more about drone science. After the initial build, kids can continue to explore other aspects of drone flight with a series of additional drone projects. (Note: After building the basic mini drone, the different experiments require additional parts, and some use an Arudino, so carefully check the materials lists. Ready to get started with Arduino?)WATCH: Videos
ASK: Questions
Use these questions to prompt conversation and reflection about the science behind this week's Awesome Summer Science Experiments activities:
- What are Newton's three laws of motion?
- Which law of motion can you observe in how the propeller on the mini propeller car works?
- What kinds of energy did you observe in the activity you tried?
(Educators! See the Teach About Newton's Laws of Motion resource.)
SCIENCE KITS: Bristlebots and BlueBots
The following Science Buddies Kits fit in with this week's Ready, Set, Go! STEM theme:
- Bristlebot Robotics Kit: Design and build different kinds of wiggling, wobbling robots with the Bristlebot Robotics Kit. Combining the specialty parts in the kit with craft and household materials, kids can learn about robotics and circuits as they build ArtBot, Brushbot, and Bristlebot robots. Or, they can jump in and design their own custom Junkbot robots using recycled materials.
- BlueBot 4-in-1 Robotics Kit: BlueBot robots are robotic vehicles with specific behaviors based on the sensors used in their circuits. Explore robotics and sensors by building a Motion-Activated Guard Robot, a Speedy Light-Tracking Robot, a Zippy Line-following Robot, or an Obstacle-Avoiding Robot. (For more ideas, see 10+ Robotics Projects with the BlueBot Kit.)
Learn more about Science Buddies Kits and see our 12 Science Kits for Summer Science Experiments and Discovery recommendations and Science Project Kits - Our top 10 list!.
EXPLORE: STEM Careers
After trying this week's summer science experiments, kids can learn more about related science and engineering careers, like:
- Physicist
- Mechanical Engineer
- Mechanical Engineering Technician
- Aerospace Engineer
- Robotics Engineer
READ: Books
Pair picture and story books like these with this week's Awesome Summer Science Experiments explorations.
For more suggestions for science-themed summer reading, see our Summer Reading List. Also, don't miss this roundup of creative STEM activities for storytelling and imaginative play.
Bookmark Awesome Summer Science Experiments Week 10: Ready, Set, Go! STEM
10 Weeks of Awesome Summer Science Experiments
- Week 1 - Rubber Band STEM
- Week 2 - Kitchen Concoctions
- Week 3 - Wizardly STEM
- Week 4 - High-Flying STEM
- Week 5 - Amazing Art Science
- Week 6 - Clever Contraptions
- Week 7 - Radiant Rainbows
- Week 8 - Wacky Water Science
- Week 9 - Carnival STEM
- Week 10 - Ready, Set, Go STEM
Follow the full summer series on the Awesome Summer Science Experiments page!
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- 12 Science Kits for Summer Science Experiments and Discovery
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- Awesome Summer Science Experiments
- Deep Dive into STEM—Do a Summer Science Project!
- Imagine Your Story - STEM Activities for Storytellers of All Ages!
- Carnival STEM (Awesome Summer Science Experiments)
- Wacky Water Science (Awesome Summer Science Experiments)
- Radiant Rainbows (Awesome Summer Science Experiments)
